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r sins and weaknesses； we are not cast aside as worthless。 〃He hath made us accepted in the Beloved。〃 Eph。 1：6。 The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us。 It tells us of the power of prayer；how the human voice may reach the ear of God； and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven。 By sin； earth was cut off from heaven； and alienated from its communion； but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory。 His love has encircled man； and reached the highest heaven。 The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation。 The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul； This is My beloved child； in whom I am well pleased。
〃Beloved； now are we the sons of God； and it doth not yet appear what we shall be： but we know that； when He shall appear； we shall be like Him； for we shall see Him as He is。〃 1 John 3：2。 Our Redeemer has opened the way so that the most sinful； the most needy； the most oppressed and despised； may find access to the Father。 All may have a home in the mansions which Jesus has gone to prepare。 〃These things saith He that is holy； He that is true； He that hath the key of David； He that openeth； and no man shutteth； and shutteth； and no man openeth； 。 。 。 behold； I have set before thee an open door； and no man can shut it。〃 Rev。 3：7； 8。
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Chapter 12
The Temptation
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan； and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness。〃 The words of Mark are still more significant。 He says； 〃Immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness。 And He was there in the wilderness forty days； tempted of Satan； and was with the wild beasts。〃 〃And in those days He did eat nothing。〃
When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted； He was led by the Spirit of God。 He did not invite temptation。 He went to the wilderness to be alone； to contemplate His mission and work。 By fasting and prayer He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel。 But Satan knew that the Saviour had gone into the wilderness； and he thought this the best time to approach Him。
Mighty issues for the world were at stake in the conflict between the Prince of light and the leader of the kingdom of darkness。 After tempting man to sin； Satan claimed the earth as his； and styled himself the prince of this world。 Having conformed to his own nature the father and mother of our race； he thought to establish here his empire。 He declared that men had chosen him as their sovereign。 Through his
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control of men； he held dominion over the world。 Christ had come to disprove Satan's claim。 As the Son of man； Christ would stand loyal to God。 Thus it would be shown that Satan had not gained complete control of the human race； and that his claim to the world was false。 All who desired deliverance from his power would be set free。 The dominion that Adam had lost through sin would be recovered。
Since the announcement to the serpent in Eden； 〃I will put enmity between thee and the woman； and between thy seed and her seed〃 （Gen。 3：15）； Satan had known that he did not hold absolute sway over the world。 There was seen in men the working of a power that withstood his dominion。 With intense interest he watched the sacrifices offered by Adam and his sons。 In these ceremonies he discerned a symbol of communion between earth and heaven。 He set himself to intercept this communion。 He misrepresented God； and misinterpreted the rites that pointed to the Saviour。 Men were led to fear God as one who delighted in their destruction。 The sacrifices that should have revealed His love were offered only to appease His wrath。 Satan excited the evil passions of men； in order to fasten his rule upon them。 When God's written word was given； Satan studied the prophecies of the Saviour's advent。 From generation to generation he worked to blind the people to these prophecies； that they might reject Christ at His coming。
At the birth of Jesus； Satan knew that One had come with a divine commission to dispute his dominion。 He trembled at the angel's message attesting the authority of the newborn King。 Satan well knew the position that Christ had held in heaven as the Beloved of the Father。 That the Son of God should come to this earth as a man filled him with amazement and with apprehension。 He could not fathom the mystery of this great sacrifice。 His selfish soul could not understand such love for the deceived race。 The glory and peace of heaven； and the joy of communion with God； were but dimly comprehended by men； but they
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were well known to Lucifer； the covering cherub。 Since he had lost heaven； he was determined to find revenge by causing others to share his fall。 This he would do by causing them to undervalue heavenly things； and to set the heart upon things of earth。
Not without hindrance was the Commander of heaven to win the souls of men to His kingdom。 From the time when He was a babe in Bethlehem； He was continually assailed by the evil one。 The image of God was manifest in Christ； and in the councils of Satan it was determined that He should be overcome。 No human being had come into the world and escaped the power of the deceiver。 The forces of the confederacy of evil were set upon His track to engage in warfare against Him； and if possible to prevail over Him。
At the Saviour's baptism； Satan was among the witnesses。 He saw the Father's glory overshadowing His Son。 He heard the voice of Jehovah testifying to the divinity of Jesus。 Ever since Adam's sin； the human race had been cut off from direct communion with God； the intercourse between heaven and earth had been through Christ； but now that Jesus had come 〃in the likeness of sinful flesh〃 （Rom。 8：3）； the Father Himself spoke。 He had before communicated with humanity through Christ； now He communicated with humanity in Christ。 Satan had hoped that God's abhorrence of evil would bring an eternal separation between heaven and earth。 But now it was manifest that the connection between God and man had been restored。
Satan saw that he must either conquer or be conquered。 The issues of the conflict involved too much to be entrusted to his confederate angels。 He must personally conduct the warfare。 All the energies of apostasy were rallied against the Son of God。 Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell。
Many look on this conflict between Christ and Satan as having no special bearing on their own life； and for them it has little interest。 But within the domain of every human heart this controversy is repeated。 Never does one leave the ranks of evil for the service of God without encountering the assaults of Satan。 The enticements which Christ resisted were those that we find it so difficult to withstand。 They were urged upon Him in as much greater degree as His character is superior to ours。 With the terrible weight of the sins of the world upon Him； Christ withstood the test upon appetite； upon the love of the world； and upon that love of display which leads to presumption。 These were the
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temptations that overcame Adam and Eve； and that so readily overcome us。
Satan had pointed to Adam's sin as proof that God's law was unjust； and could not be obeyed。 In our humanity； Christ was to redeem Adam's failure。 But when Adam was assailed by the tempter； none of the effects of sin were upon him。 He stood in the strength of perfect manhood； possessing the full vigor of mind and body。 He was surrounded with the glories of Eden； and was in daily communion with heavenly beings。 It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan。 For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength； in mental power； and in moral worth； and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity。 Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation。
Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation。 Then He could not have been placed in Adam's position； He could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain。 If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ； then He would not be able to succor us。 But our Saviour took humanity； with all its liabilities。 He took the nature of man； with the possibility of yielding to temptation。 We have nothing to bear which He has not endured。
With Christ； as with the holy pair in Eden； appetite was the ground of the first great temptation。 Just where the ruin began； the work of our redemption must begin。 As by the indulgence of appetite Adam fell； so by the denial of appetite Christ must overcome。 〃And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights； He was afterward an hungred。 And when the tempter came to Him； he said； If Thou be the Son of God； command that these stones be made bread。 But He answered and said； It is written； Man shall not live by bread alone； but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God。〃
From the time of Adam to that of Chr